The new Burke Museum is now open

Photo: Andrew Waits
Photo: Andrew Waits
October 18, 2019 | Burke PR

The all new Burke Museum is now open!

More than 8,000 people celebrated grand opening this past weekend. From October 11–14, the Burke transformed into a multicultural festival with dancing, music and performances outdoors in the new Burke Yard. Inside, visitors experienced six new galleries, visible workrooms and collections storage filled with curiosity and conversation, and activities for all ages.

It was also the official grand opening of Off the Rez Café, Off the Rez’s first brick-and-mortar location. The café specializes in fry bread, Indian tacos, and an array of new, creative menu items that focus on local and Indigenous ingredients. Their food truck, rated one of the Top 25 food trucks in America by Food Network, was also serving food throughout the weekend.

What's Next

Open Doors

Every Saturday and Sunday
10:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Included with museum admission

Get closer to the daily work happening in the Burke’s visible collections storage, labs and workrooms on the weekends. Every Saturday and Sunday, chat with research staff and volunteers working with collections, and find out how collections answer questions about our world. 

Learn More


Onsite Field Trips start November 12

Give your students a museum experience unlike any other. Exhibits and visible labs surround you during facilitated lessons and activities, giving learners a more holistic understanding of the subjects covered during your field trip. Watching the work and people in the visible labs, workrooms and collections is inspiration for students to see themselves as a scientist, collections manager or artist. Programs and more information at burkemuseum.org/fieldtrips.


I Dig Dinos starts January 2020

January – April 2020
Last Sunday of the month
11 AM – 4 PM
Included with museum admission

Bring your budding paleontologist to explore fossilized fun at five hands-on stations designed especially for early learners. Hold fossils and casts at the touch table, make scientific discoveries in the dig pit, engage in dramatic play, try our dino/not dino sorting game, and create a craft to take home.

Our fossil lab is always active on I Dig Dino Sundays! Get this month’s Dig Challenge, then head for the 3rd floor on a Jurassic quest to see the latest fossils being prepared in the paleontology lab, explore our fossil exhibit, and earn your prehistoric prize! Craft, touch table, and dig challenge theme changes monthly so there’s always something new.

Please note: I Dig Dinos is open to everyone but is geared toward ages 3-7.

Upcoming I Dig Dinos Themes

  • January: Flight and Feathers
  • February: Ice Ages
  • March: Mesozoic Monsters
  • April: Dino Environments

NiteLife Starts January 2020

Select dates from 6–9 PM
Ages 21+

Themed after-hours cocktail events where you can get up closer to collections, enjoy the galleries with your friends, and partake in themed activities and cocktails.

Upcoming NiteLife Events:

  • January 24 | Earth
  • March 20 | Fire
  • May 15 | Wind
  • Summer 2020 | Water
  • Fall 2020 | Heart

First Members' Behind-the-Scenes Night in the New Burke!

February 26, 2020

Go behind the glass into collections and workrooms at this members-only event.

Become at member today at burkemuseum.org/join!